October 5, 2022, the second game of a doubleheader* between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers.

Aaron Judge, the leadoff hitter and franchise star of the New York Yankees, stepped up to the plate. With a 1-1 count, the pitcher chose to throw a powerful 88 mph (141 km/h) fastball. Aaron Judge swung hard, and the ball soared over the left field wall, marking his record-breaking 62nd home run.

It was the moment when Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs, set in 1961, was broken after 61 years.

*DH: An abbreviation for Double Header, which refers to two games played consecutively.

The AL* single-season home run record was 73 by Barry Bonds. However, the release of the so-called 'Mitchell Report**' in 2007 caused a huge stir in Major League Baseball. It revealed the use of performance-enhancing drugs by superstars like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, leading to the erasure of their major records. As a result, Roger Maris once again became the focal point for baseball fans as the holder of the single-season home run record (61 home runs). 

* AL: An abbreviation for the American League, one of the two leagues in Major League Baseball along with the National League.
** Mitchell Report: A document authored by U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell, which disclosed a list of MLB players who had used banned substances, causing a significant impact.

"I don't want to be Babe Ruth. I just want to be Roger Maris, who hit 61 home runs."

- Roger Maris

Roger Maris, who surpassed the legendary Babe Ruth's 60 home runs, faced a lukewarm reaction from fans despite his outstanding performance. This was because he was competing for the home run title with 'Mickey Mantle*', the franchise star of the New York Yankees at the time. Unlike Mickey Mantle, who debuted with the Yankees, Roger Maris was traded from the Kansas City Athletics in 1960. Therefore, New York Yankees fans preferred that their legend Babe Ruth's record be broken by Mickey Mantle, not by the newcomer Roger Maris.
 
* Mickey Mantle: A one-club man for the New York Yankees, he was often called Babe Ruth's successor when he joined. He won MVP three times, but frequent injuries halted his record at 54 home runs.

At that time, even the MLB Commissioner said, "The record cannot be recognized because there are more games now than in Babe Ruth's era*." Eventually, an asterisk was added to Roger Maris's home run record to denote "ㄱ". The New York press also did not welcome Roger Maris surpassing Babe Ruth's** record. This story of Roger Maris was later made into the movie 61****.

* In 1961, with the addition of two new teams to the MLB, the number of games in a season increased from 154 to 162. 

** Bambino: Babe Ruth's nickname
*** 61* : A 2001 film that portrays the home run race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.

Despite these adverse conditions, Roger Maris quietly continued to build his home run record. He tied Babe Ruth with 60 home runs in the 157th game of the season, and then set a new record with 61 home runs in the final game of the season. Although home fans did not welcome his achievement, all Major League Baseball stakeholders (journalists, fellow players, etc.) recognized his greatness by naming Roger Maris the AL MVP, acknowledging his remarkable record.

"Aaron Judge is clean (from drug suspicions), and he played the right way. His record is legitimate."
- Roger Maris Jr. (Roger Maris's son)

"Today's record is not something I achieved alone. It was made together with all my teammates, and with God."
- Aaron Judge, after hitting his 62nd home run
 

61 years later, in 2022, Aaron Judge, the franchise star of the New York Yankees, surpassed Roger Maris's record by hitting 62 home runs. Aaron Judge was named the AL MVP, and various media outlets called him the 'Man Who Broke the Record'. In his post-game interview, he repeatedly mentioned that his record was a 'new record in 61 years,' reminding everyone of the significance of Roger Maris's 61 home runs. Roger Maris's family expressed their gratitude and congratulations to Aaron Judge, attending all the team's games towards the end of the season to commemorate the achievement.

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